2015 Wood Diamond Award

Main Category: Kitchen
Sub Category: European
Dollar Amount: Under $25,000

What materials/species were used in this project/item?
These kitchen cabinets were constructed out of 3/4″ rustic alder fiber core. The cabinet doors are rustic alder (perimeter) and oak (island) with raised panels and the drawers have rustic alder/oak slab fronts. For the perimeter cabinets, we hand-wiped on Gemini stain in a custom color and then sprayed on a Gemini conversion varnish. The island is painted with Gemini paint in a custom color and a Sherwin Williams Van Dyke Brown glaze was applied over that. The cabinet interiors were constructed out of Roseburg hard rock maple melamine and the drawer boxes were made out of baltic birch. We used Grass Elite Plus 16 soft-close drawer tracks, Salice hinges, and antique silver cabinet pulls and knobs from Amerock. For cabinet lighting, we used warm LED puck lights from Tresco. The countertops are laminate Formica River Gold 3546-46 with a concord edge and Karran E-350 stainless steel undermount sink.

Describe, in detail, the project/item’s construction.
Cabinet Vision software was used for design and production prep. All of the material parts for this project were cut on a Weeke CNC Router and banded on an SCM Olympic Edgebander. A team of builders then assembled the cabinets before they moved on to be stained and finished. The finish we use is a Gemini Conversion varnish and the technique is done by using a Grayco air-assisted sprayer.

What is the most unusual aspect or outstanding characteristic of this entry?
The mix of rustic and modern selections in this kitchen makes for a unique look of casual elegance. The island was distressed with a variety of techniques prior to being painted and glazed, giving it an aged look. The rustic appearance of the wood and flooring is complimented by the sleek hardware and appliances, clean lines of the cabinet doors and angular crown moulding. There is plenty of space for a family to gather at the island.

List any items that were outsourced.
Employees were a part of the construction of this kitchen from start to finish: the planning and design phase, construction (cabinets, drawer boxes, doors, drawer fronts, countertops), staining and finishing, and lastly, installation of the cabinets and countertops. We outsourced the doors/drawer fronts.

How being a member of the CMA has benefited you and/or your business.
CMA is a great networking tool and way to communicate with other industry professionals. We’ve been in business for over 30 years and still come across questions every day. CMA is an exceptional resource to receive advice/tips from other cabinetmakers. It has also been a pleasure to watch the CMA grow from a relatively small organization to a much more nationally recognized organization. We are thankful for organizations like this to continually improve our business and offerings!